Hot Topics: Lancaster’s Hainan triumph, Mibelle’s focus on healthspan now trending on our socials

Coty’s Lancaster sales grew five times year-on-year in Hainan​

Coty-owned skin care brand Lancaster saw sales on Hainan Island multiply by five year-on-year, boosting the beauty major’s confidence in building its skin care presence in China.

Lancaster sales grew over 20% in the first quarter of FY2023, a result of the brand’s performance in Hainan, even in the midst of strict COVID-19 restrictions.

The Monegasque brand has also been performing well outside of Hainan and topped Sephora’s rankings as the number one niche skin care brand.

Mibelle Biochemistry zeroes in on skin ageing to tackle healthspan and lifespan concerns​

The head of Mibelle Biochemistry says the firm will concentrate efforts on skin-ageing research as concerns of healthspan and lifespan come into the spotlight.

Founder and managing director Fred Zülli expressed his growing interest in the topic of healthspan and lifespan, and how it is fuelling the company’s research into the mechanisms of ageing.

With countries such as Japan and Singapore grappling with the burdens of ageing populations, the topic of healthy ageing is driving the development of products that can help us thrive and flourish even as we age.

Finnish firm with microbiome-restoring active targets South Korea as APAC springboard​

A Helsinki-based firm that has developed a microbiome-restoring extract is eyeing opportunities in the South Korean beauty market, which it believes will serve as a springboard to the wider Asia Pacific region.

Uute Scientific has launched an extract that claims restore the microbiome. The ingredient, Re-Connecting Nature, is a microbial extract derived from humus – decomposed organic matter.

Co-founder Rita Nordin said ​that the APAC region was an important market for the firm, highlighting that its novel ingredient was China-compliant.

How to win over… more expressive and mindful consumers in the evolving fragrance category​

The fragrance category has evolved to become an essential category for wellness as well as self-expression, according to exclusive insights from major players Coty and L’Oréal, along with a line-up of exciting niche labels.

In the last decade, the way Asia has consumed perfumes have changed drastically. Typically, consumers bought perfumes for the brand and the status. They were given as gifts and used only for special occasions.

A decade on, the fragrance consumer now has a heightened appreciation for the art of perfumery. 

Why APSKIN founder is prioritising affordability and accessibility for skin care brand​

A skin care brand from Australia has made a goal to be as beneficial and accessible to as many people as possible, recognising that skin issues can exact a heavy toll on mental and emotional wellbeing.

Dr Vincent Candrawinata told the Indie Pioneers ​podcast that his goal was for his brand APSKIN to become the ultimate “basic skin care brand”.​

He explained that to be basic was to be beneficial to all types of skin, from pubescent teen skin to weakened mature skin. More importantly, it means being financially accessible to anyone.